Reversible plow



June 10, 1952 A. R. covlELLo 2,600,359

REVERSIBLE PLOW Filed April 6, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l 17u11 E A? 6o m:

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June 10, 1952 A. R. covlELLo 2*6005359 REVERSIBLE PLow Filed April e, 1948 4 s sheets-sheet 2 l JNVENToR:

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REVERSIBLE PLOW Filed April 6, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l 619;" JNVENToR: 4l ANTHONY R. CovleLLo Arron Nfrs.

Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSIBLE PLW Anthon-yR. Coviello, Tulare, Calif.

Application April 6, 1948, Serial No. 19,266

(Cl. E37-32) `9 Claims. l

The present invention relates to plows and more particularly to improvements in a disc plow ofthe general type described in my United States Patentv No. 2,084,629 which includes a gang of plow discs which is reciprocally positionable between opposite sides of the plow and a linkage which reverses the attitudes of the discs during such positioning so as `to discharge encountered earth laterally to. opposite sides of the plow.

The advantages of reversible plows are well known and are briefly illustrated in the plowing of a field so as to throw plowed earth in a single direction while the plow is. caused to traverse reciprocal parallel paths. For example, when the plow is drawn in one direction encountered earth is discharged to a side thereof. When the plow is drawn in thev opposite direction encountered earth is discharged to the opposite side of the plow by reversing the plow discs in the plow and thus the plowed earth is discharged in relation to the field in the same direction. This avoidsthe formation of undesirable ridges and furrowsf in the field` characteristicv of non-reversible plow operation.

Reversible plows. have been subject to certain difficulties which thepresent invention seeks to overcome. Such plows tend to drift laterally as a, result of lateral' thrust; of the'. plow discs in earth engagement. This ymakes directional control', accuracy of depth control, and uniformity of cultivation diiii'cult to achieve. Difficulty hasi been experienced in reversing, the plow discs in theplow at the end ofthe furrow which operation requires excessive effort on the part of the operator and waste of time. Such plows have beerr characteristically difficult to adapt to varied soi-land: operational requirements.

AnobjectV of the present'invention therefore is to provide an improved reversible plow.

Another object is to provide a two-way plow conveniently and easily adapted to varied soil Another objectis to provide a reversible plow employingv reciproca-ily positionable plow blades arranged in a pivotally mounted plow beam whereby.y the plow bladesV exert substantially equal and. opposite turning moments on. the beam.

Otherfobjects andV advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description i-nthe specifi-cation.

In theV drawings:

Fig.. l is a side Yelevation of av reversible plow embodying the principles of the presen-t inventionA andb a fragmentarily illustrated tractor shown. in drawing relation thereto;

'2 is a-plan View of the plowshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3- is ay somewhat enlarged` fragmentary View4 of a portion of a; manuall control means of the present invention, as seenV from line 3,-3 in Fig; 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line i--d of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5` is a, somewhat enlarged fragmentary View ofv a control arm, positioning lever, guide member, and' elements employed therewith inthe plow of the present invention.

Fig. 6- isa somewhat enlarged section takenon line 6 6 of Fig. la

Fig. '7- is an enlarged side elevation. of'thefrudder wheel employed in the reversible: plow shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof a plowbeam employed inthe device of the present invention showing certain associatedparts and' their relation thereto.

Referring in greater detail tothe drawings:

A tractor I-U is fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 1 characteristic of draft appliances.- generally. The tractor employs` hydraulically elevated tool mounting armsy II- and. L2', respectively, that are hydraulically raised and lowered to raiseand lower agricultural implementsy connected thereto. Such mounting arms are well known in the artand are notvdeseribed: in greater detail at this. point.. Further, the device of thepresent invention is not. limited to use with tractors employing hydraulic lifts` but. is suitably employed4 withany draft appliance furnishing the requisite. power..

In Figs. l and, 2, a forwardly movable draft frameis indicated generally at. ll5, having a forward end portion t6 transversely' of the well known A framev structure. Vadapted for connection to the. mounting. arms tl and l2.` vRearwardl-y extendedv from theforward end portion of the. framey are spaced, substantially parallelside bars I1 which are interconnected.. by rearwardly and inwardly extended bars I8. Anupwardly disposed channel iron brace i9. is secured transversely tothe draft frame.. to the, rearwardly and inwardly extended bars t8.. near the. juncture of their rearward end portions. A downwardly disposed channel iron brace 20 is secured, also transversely to the plow. to said rearwardly and inwardly extended bars below the brace I9. The lower brace 20 is conveniently mounted as by welding to said bars I8. To mount the upper brace I9, angle brackets 2l are weldably secured to the rearwardly and inwardly extended bars I8 and said upper brace secured to the brackets as by bolts 22 and nuts 23. Although the draft frame is shown in a form suitable for fabrication from properly congurated bars, channel iron, and the like as by bolting and welding the same together; it will be readily apparent that the frame may be of unitary construction, and formed by casting, stamping, welding, or any other suitable system of formation.

A tubular bearing sleeve 25 is mounted in a substantially erect position on the upper brace I9, as shown in Fig. 6, as by being welded thereto. A bearing sleeve 26 is provided in the lower brace 20 in alignment with the upper sleeve 25 and a bore formed through the upper brace I9 in alignment with the sleeves. The bearing sleeves are preferably substantially laterally centered in the frame.

A pivot post 21 is journaled in the sleeve 25. A control arm 28 is welded to the upwardly extended end portion of the post and in abutment with the upper end of the sleeve 25, constituting a bearing stop precluding the dropping of the post from the sleeve. A thrust washer 29 is positioned on the post below the brace 26 and a securing nut 3|] and jamb nut 3I employed to secure the post in the frame I5, as shown.

The draft frame I is rearwardly extended by welding a plate 34 on the upper brace I9 in a substantially erect position and interconnecting the upper end of the plate 34 with the A frame I6 by a strut 35. A tubular bracket 36 is rearwardly extended from the plate in alignment with the normal direction of movement of the draft frame. A rudder mounting bearing 31 is mounted on the rearward portion of the tubular bracket 36 in a substantially erect position, as by welding. A rudder yoke 38 is journaled in the sleeve and provides a pair of downwardly and rearwardly directed legs 39 pivotally mounted thereon. The legs constitute a bifurcated portion of the yoke. A rudder member 42, conveniently of the form of a plow colter, is journaled in the bifurcated portion of the yoke. A depth control bracket 44 is welded on the yoke in a position in substantial alignment with the rudder member. The bracket 44 is preferably braced by a gusset plate 45 welded thereto and to the yoke. A spring loaded depth control member 46 is interconnected between the rearwardly extended end portion of the bracket 44 and the legs 39 of the yoke. 'I'he depth control member is conveniently formed of a screw-threaded shaft 41 slideably received in the rearward end portion of the bracket 44 and has a bifurcated lower end portion pivotally connected to the legs 39. A helical compression spring 48 is mounted in circumscribing relation to the shaft 41 below the bracket 44. A pair of adjustment nuts 49 are screw-threadably engaged to the shaft, one thereof above the bracket 44 and in abutment therewith and the other thereof below the spring 48. Manipulation of the nut 49 in association with the bracket 44 serves elevationally to adjust the rudder member 42. Adjustable positioning of the lower nut 49 in abutting relation to the spring 48 serves to regulate the force exerted by the spring in holding the legs 39 in their downwardly directed positions as determined by adjustment of the upper nut. Manipulation of the nuts 49 is facilitated by washers 49a interposed between said nuts and their respective abutted elements. Adjustment of the nuts serves elevationally to position the rudder member relative to the frame and thus to control the depth of earth engagement of the rudder member and its effect, and to control the shock absorbing characteristics of the spring which serves to protect the structure of the draft frame and rudder mounting when the device is dropped to earth engagement and when the rudder member 42 encounters obstructions in the soil such as rocks and the like.

A plow beam 5I) is pivotally mounted intermediate its end portions for substantially horizontal pivotal movement between attitudes oppositely angled from alignment with the normal direction of movement of the plow by being weldably secured to the pivot post 21, as at 5I in Fig. 6. The plow beam conveniently takes the form of a pair of angle iron sides 52 arranged in substantially parallel relation oppositely disposed to the post, as most clearly shown in Fig. 8. An inverted U shaped bracket 55 is mounted at the forward end portion of the plow beam, as by welding, and forwardly extended. A roller 56 is journaled in the U shaped bracket in substantial alignment with the plow beam, as shown in Fig. 4. An arcuate track 58 concentrically disposed to the pivot post 21 is mounted in the frame in supporting relation to the roller 56 and thus the plow beam 56. The track serves accurately to maintain the forward end portion of the plow beam at constant elevation as it is reciprocally angled in the frame and reduces strain imposed on the pivot post 21 and bearing sleeves 25 and 26.

Being in fixed radial relation to the post 21, the control arm 28 is in controlling relation to the plow beam 59. For convenience in positioning the plow beam, a worm drive control 60 is xedly mounted on the forward end portion of the draft frame I5. The control employs a worm gear 6l having driven connection with a manually manipulable crank 62 forwardly extended from the control to a `position conveniently accessible by an operator of the tractor I 0. The worm gear engages a pinion 63 journaled in the control 60 which is in unitary relation with a radially extended arm 64. A push-pull rod 65 interconnects the radially extended end of the arm 64 and the control arm 28 at a point removed from the pivot post 21. Thus by rotation of the crank 62 an operator may conveniently, adjustably angle the plow beam 50 in the draft frame I5. The mechanical advantage exerted by the operator through the crank B2 is readily adjusted by providing a plurality of control arm engaging positions 66 for the push-pull rod 65. It will readily be apparent that the manually manipulable control system for the control arm 28 just described, is merely a suitable form of control to which the present invention is in no way limited. The control arm, for example, may conveniently be manipulated by hydraulic control means, by a lever extended therefrom, or by any other suitable structure.

A pair of pillow blocks 1I) are mounted in the plow beam 5D as by bolts 1I and nuts 12 engaged to the sides 52 thereof. The pillow blocks in turn mount bearings 13 in substantially erect positions. The pillow blocks 10 are preferably arranged in the plow beam, so as to space the beari mecano-19 the posts Aabovethe-loearings Plow-disc'blades "fitrare fixed-ly mounted'ori thelowerendportions vof the-toollpos'tsllf-as-by ldisc' mountingflbra'ckets f7-1. The plow disc blades lare mounted V'inl'atftiftudes Jadapted lforearthengagement andare xpivotallly positioned between/attitudes adaptedito discharge fthe earth fencounteredfin -a-direction Vhavn-iga -l-'ateral'cor-nponent of movement-tothe rig-ht vof the plo-wand attitudes adapted-itc `"disv-charge earth encountered =in af'` direction having Y a lateral componenteo'f movement fto the left *of thejlow -A'lpu'shfepull -member 19 interconnects the radially `exten-ded- 'ends-'oi '-ftlre f ipositioning arms l -njlpredetermined#spaced `relation. The push-pull member is .convenientlylconnected to -o'f providing-relative --fadju's'tableangli-ng of the vplowflolades,'ftlf-ieplasir-pullmember 19 lisprovded Vwi'll'i a 'plurality 'of ipin receiving' openings" `i8 I for selective connectionftofthe' positioning arms. 'The push-pull-mmber-resultsincorresponding variation's l-in` the `a'ttitude Yo'f a? plow-disc blade i upon movemen't-ofthe lother' ofthe blades.

` To the end of translating-reciprocal positioning offthe plow beami' into 'controlled angling of the plowjlolades VTil-dpa lever B3 'is welded f to the "forward ltool -p'ost and j-rearwardly 'extended therefrom. ThusY it will ibe #seen *thatthe 1 tool post-14, it'siipositoningffarm 715, and `the"1ever'83 Aare lrigidly interconnected. The lever-provides a slot 182i -'formed 4lo'n'gitudina'lly 'therein *iin substantial 1ra-dial -relationto the post. Afguide-l vhaving a oam'way 8B '-'form'edtherein-In-substantial'longi 'tudinal alignment with the draftfframe, isimounted in the trame adjacent to the leverBlS, as-'shown inFig. 5. rvjA can-1` ori-cam followerl'is positioned linitheslo't -of thelever 83 4andfsecure'd inflo'ngitudinally "adjusted 1 position in-ithefslot'by a J'amb nut 58'8. l The cam fis upwardly extended through `theguide"meinberlinengagement with the cam- .'way. TheV signi'can'ce o'ffthe 'arrangementv deifsc'rli'bed 'and fthelrearward'-extension .ofth'e `lever les `is-made clearly apparentbysreferenee to Fig. 2. when lthe control means-lill is 'manipulated fto Sangle the plowbeamvas Ssho'wn iinifull lines in zelig. 42, 'the lever, through therridin'g of itsrfea'm 81 iin the eamway'fs, angles tthefplow 'blades *in response thereto. Thus `when fthe forward 'end Vportion of the plow vbeamvis angled 'to 'the right, fthe-pl'owblades '15 fare' also angled Yto `the right.

`When the. control B Vis manipulated to angle the Vplow *beam* /to 'the yleft, as lshown in L-'dotted .'lines, `the plow `abla'des are 'responsiyely 'angled v`to the t'left. `The extentioffthe anglingl ofthe'plow-'blades "in :response to .'a given fangling :of #the `plow beam is readi'ly'fadjustable rthrough "the-.adjustable'positioning Pof the `cam `87 in uthe :slot 84.

' Vlli-'tiller'Ellis radially extended romlthe rudder 'yoke '38. .A -ttelescopically *adjustable push-pull rodfQii is interconnected.betweenthecontrol larm '123 and the tiller on 'the 'same side lof the rudder yoke and .pivotpo'stZ respectively. '-'I'hetiller Iand the V"control farm preferably :prov-ide optional A4engaging Vpositions; 91| :for the'push-pull-rod. The 'connection of the ,push-'pull rod between the conftrol arm Yarxdthe'till'er "as described, translates pivotal :positioning 'of the Aplow beam 5l) Tinto corresponding directional, pivotal positioning `o'fthe rudder member 42. Telescopic-,adjustment o'f the pushf'pul-l :rod: controls :relative .positioning vofthe .rudder fm'enrber andthexcontro'l arm, 'and the positions:at'-fwhichsaidy rod Lis-.fconnected itof. the

control-arm andthe "tillenI .controlfthemechanical -`-advantagefof v tllie .'.controliarm inzrelation to `the Vtiller and 1*the extent of the :rudder lmember *angling inl-responseto affgivenfplow beamfangling.

A` f Operation vv'The l'operation of the reversiblepl-.ow o i the present invention is clearly apparentandrisbrieflyisummaizedfat this point. .'Io precondition the fplowiiforoperation'the mounting-arms--ll and I2 L ofthe tractor areipreferab'ly. elevated to raisev the :plow'-blades 'i716 and itl'lezerudcler member .421from earth engagement. When "a tractor is employed that dl'aestnothaveY fanfhydraulic '.li'f-t, 'the iplow itaneously thefrudder--member-A'Z is angledini-.the

isa'me generaldi-rection as the-plow beamyas--preiviouslyrdescribed. -The mounting :arms lH Vand `|2 are lowered -to nbring .the blades -16 `and-rudder member 42 into earthengagemen-tandthe :plow

vfcaused `-to traverse the learth ldesired -to be lplowed.

zfAs earth-isv urged-:laterallyfbyfthe plow blades Y 53?; .the earth urgesfthe draft frame I 5 in the opposite-direction. The angling ofthe vrudder mem- .ber d 2 rinfearth engagement compensates -for this ela-teral A.thrustof the blades. Qbviously the vrudvfdrer member maybe Ica-used -to overcontrol or .zundercontrolrdepending uponthe adjustment and A'nfiountingwof the Ypush-.pull rod-9B. Asv shown in Figi-2, the ruddermember rides in the .fur-row `foi' ythe rearwardplow-disc-and thusis engaged with :relatively `rinearth and` idees not molest :earth -disc'harged foy-'the plow blades. VThe positioning fof' @the rudder member eat the rear-of the draft ira-me *l5 gives -the :forces A`exerted v4thereby a -mechanical ladvantageover the forces exerted on fthe plow -loladesbysencountered earth.

The Hmountingv` offthe; plow blades J6 substantially equallyiand foppositely disposed to the-.pivot post {2-1, causes their-turning moments exerted von the plow beam -5U-to be substantial-1y v'equal 4andfopposi-te. Th-isfhasfbeen found conducive to operationak accuracy rand f ease of con-trol. These segua-l and-opposite turning :moments ftend to v`maintain the plow inv adjusted position-'in the sdra'ft iframe -and to eliminate -.crawling -of the -;plow Abeam 4from :adjusted lposition vduring -operatiene asfexperieneed :in conventional Pplows i-of the type. :Iftfwi'l-l bevclearlyevident-that the'pres'ent I-inventionis'not-limitedto thefemplcyment-of a `r.pairxo-f plow -bladesnor yto equal and --opposite spacing v-of `the blades.

-When -theplow 'reaches fthe' en'd 'of a'furrow vand 1t :ifs desired i-@to lreverse the direction of movef mentthereof;=theiplowwisfelevatedifrom vthe Aearth -byrmanipulation"fof themounting farms lIl land VJ-2 anditheicontrol 450 manipulated'cto angle the Lplow :beam "in ithe r,Opposite :direction Jresultingin rar corresponding #opposite 'angling of Athe `rudder member 42 and plow fbla'des lrrom the positions previously maintained. 'lPlrre'fplow is lowered into earth engagement #and the @plowing operation repeated.

` of structure is `-conduoivexto feconomv fof! construcf-tion and opera'tion.

r u.. A

' `.A1though I haveherein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made thererfrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

` means having controlled connection to the plow beam and controlling connection to the rudder member and swivelly positioning the rudder member relative to the frame in response tov pivotal movement of the plow beam in the frame and in the same direction.

2. In a reversible plow having a forwardly movable draft frame, a plow beam mounted in the frame for substantially horizontal pivotal movement, disc plow blades pivotally mounted in the beam, and means interconnecting the plow blades for corresponding pivotal movement in the beam;

\ the combination of a substantially horizontal guide mounted in the frame having an enlongated cam way formed therein longitudinally of the frame, a lever radially extended from a plow blade in pivotal controlling relation thereto to a positionin elevationally spaced relation to the guide, and a cam follower mounted on the lever in predetermined radially spaced relation to the center of pivotal movement of the plow blade and slidably engaged in the cam way of the guide.

3. A reversible disc plow comprising a draft frame having forward and rearward end por-V tions, means mounted at the forward end of the frame adapted for connection to a draft appliance, direction control means swivelly mounted in supporting relation to the rearward end of the frame, a plow beam mounted in the frame for .l

horizontal pivotal movement, a disc plow blade rotatably mounted in the plow beam forward of the pivotal mounting thereof, a guide rigidly mounted in the frame having a cam way formed therein forwardly and rearwardly extended from vertical alignment with the pivotal mounting of the plow beam, a lever radially extended from the disc plow blade rearwardly in the frame and having a longitudinal slot formed therein adjacent to the guide, a cam follower mounted inthe slot of the lever for radial adjustment relative to the rotatable mounting of the disc blade in engagement with the cam way of the guide,

` and means interconnecting the plow beam and the direction control means and translating pivotal movement of the beam in the frame into corresponding pivotal movement of the direction control means in the frame.

4. In a reversible plow, the combination of a forwardly movable drift frame, a beam pivotally i mounted in the draft frame for substantially horizontal pivotal movement about a pivot axis intermediate its ends, disc plow blades mounted on the beam on opposite sides of the pivot axis of said beam for reciprocal positioning between accosta f the lever in engagement with the guide whereby A positioning of the beam in the draft frame is translated into responsive positioning of the plow blades on the beam, a rudder member swivelly mounted in the rearward end portion of the draft frame, and means interconnecting the beam and the rudder member for corresponding pivotal movement relative to the draft frame.

5. A reversible disc plow comprising a draft frame, an elongated plow beam, a substantially erect shaft mounted in the frame and pivotally mounting the plow beam intermediate its ends for substantially horizontal pivotal movement in the frame, a plurality of tool posts rotatably mounted in the plow beam on opposite sides of the shaft and downwardly extended from the beam, disc blades mounted on the posts in substantially erect positions, arms radially extended from the tool posts, a push-pull member pivotally interconnecting the radially extended arms, means mounted on the frame for controllably angling the plow beam in the frame, a guide rigidly mounted in the frame extended above the shaft and having an elongated cam way formed therein transversely disposed to the shaft, a lever radially extended from a tool post to a position adjacent to the guide, and a cam follower mounted on the lever in controlled engagement with the cam way of the guide.

6. A reversible disc plow comprising a draft frame having forward and rearward end portions, an elongated plow beam, a substantially erect shaft mounted in the frame and pivotally mounting the plow beam substantially at the mid-portion thereof for horizontal pivotal movement in the frame, a pair of tool posts rotatably mounted inthe plow beam on opposite sides of the shaft and downwardly extended from the beam, a disc blade mounted on each of the posts in corresponding substantially erect positions, an arm radially extended from each of the tool posts laterally of the elongated beam, a push-pull member pivotally interconnecting the radially extended arms for corresponding movement of their respective posts, a control arm rigidly mounted transversely on the shaft, means mounted in the frame connected to the control arm adapted controllably to position the control arm shaft and plow beam in the frame, a guide rigidly mounted in the frame and extended above the shaft, said guide having an elongated camway formed therein transversely of the shaft, a lever radially extended from a tool post to a position adjacent to the guide, a cam follower mounted on the lever in controlled engagement with the camway of the guide, a rudder wheel, a rudder yoke swivelly mounting the rudder wheel in the rearward end portion of the frame, a tiller radially extended from the yoke laterally of the frame, and a push-pull rod pivotally interconnecting the control arm and the tiller for corresponding movement.

7. In a reversible plow, the combination of a draft frame having means for connection to a in the draft frame for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, plow members borne by the plow beam on opposite sides of the pivotal mounting and substantially equally spaced from said mounting, a rudder member swivelly mounted in the draft frame in earth engagement, control means connected to the plow beam pivotally positioning said beam relative to the draft frame, a control arm mounted on the beam and extended therefrom in radial relation to the pivotal movement thereof, a tiller mounted on the rudder member and extended therefrom in radial relation to the swivel movement thereof, and a push-pull rod pivotally interconnecting the control arm and tiller for corresponding pivotal movements.

8. In a reversible plow having a forwardly movable draft frame, a, plow beam mounted in the frame for substantially horizontal pivotal movement, disc plow blades pivotally mounted in the beam, and means interconnecting the plow blades for corresponding pivotal movement in the beam; the combination of a substantially horizontal guide mounted in the frame having an elongated cam way formed therein longitudinally of the frame, an elongated lever radially extended from a plow blade in pivotal controlling relation thereto to a position in elevationally spaced relation to the guide, said lever having a slot formed longitudinally thereof, a cam follower slidably engaged in the cam way of the guide, and means rigidly mounting the follower in the slot of the lever in adjustable radially spaced relation to the center of pivotal movement of the plow blade.

9. In a reversible plow, the combination of a draft frame having forward and rearward end portions, ground engaging direction control means swivelly mounted in supporting relation to the rearward end of the frame, a plow beam 10 pivotally mounted in the draft frame for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, disc plow blades mounted on the beam for reciprocal positioning between attitudes adapted to work the earth in a direction having a lateral component to one side of the plow and attitudes adapted to work the earth in a direction having a lateral component to the opposite side of the plow, means interconnecting the plow blades for corresponding reciprocal positioning, control means interconnecting the disc blades and the frame and translating pivotal movement of the plow beam from side to side in the frame into positioning of the plow blades to work the earth in a direction having a, lateral component to the corresponding side of the frame, and means interconnecting the plow beam and the direction control means and translating pivotal movement of the plow beam in the frame into corresponding pivotal movement of the direction control means from side to side in the frame.

ANTHONY R. COVIELLO.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Apr. 27, 1900 

